No matter what time of year it is, Crystal Mountain in the northern city of Thompsonville, MI, is your destination for family fun! There’s so much to do here, you’ll never get bored! Crystal Mountain is all about outdoor recreation, whether you're shushing down the mountain on skis, riding the trails on your mountain bike, or traversing the ropes course high in the air. With so many things to choose from, what will you do first?

Winter Fun

A winter wonderland awaits you at Crystal Mountain! Get out your hats and gloves and get ready to heat things up as you enjoy the beautiful snowy surroundings.

Skiing/SnowboardingWith 58 downhill slopes, 29 of which are lighted for night skiing, you’ll get your fill if you’re a skier or snowboarder! Crystal Mountain offers four terrain areas, four glade areas, one learning area, nine lifts, and ski terrain parks that range in difficulty! The total skiable area is 102 acres with a 375-foot vertical drop! If you’re into cross-country skiing, you'll love the 18.5 miles of trails that wind through. After the sun goes down, enjoy cross-country skiing in the area that is lighted for nighttime enjoyment.

Fat Tire Snow BikingRent a bike and hop on for a beautiful winter cycling experience! With almost six miles of trails for snow biking, you’ll enjoy a 40-45 minute brisk ride through the woods! The fat tires of the bikes help them move through the snow with ease! Be sure to dress in layers because you're going to work up a sweat!

Ice Skating & HockeyPack your skates (or rent some onsite) and hit the outdoor rink! Enjoy whirling and twirling around the ice rink during free skating time, or getting in some competitive hockey during hockey hour. Skating is a fun way to get in some great exercise and fresh air with the whole family!

SnowshoeingStrap on a pair of snowshoes and explore the gorgeous powdery surroundings of Crystal Mountain! Anywhere but the ski hills is open for snowshoeing. Crystal Mountain offers snowshoe rentals and guided tours!

SnowmobilingWant to whip through the snowy terrain at fast speeds without breaking a sweat? Hop on a snowmobile and cruise on miles of snowmobile trails! Snowmobiles are available for rent at Crystal Mountain. At the resort, hop onto Michigan DNR Trail 391 which will lead you to a network of other trails! If you’re unsure about venturing out on your own, check out the guided tours offered Monday through Thursday!

Horse-Drawn Surrey RideWant to cuddle up with that special someone for a romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage? Hop aboard and enjoy the ride that concludes with a bonfire and hot chocolate! You will need to make a reservation to secure your spot, so call in advance.

Summer Activities

A ski resort is probably the last place you would think to visit in the summer, but Crystal Mountain offers year-round fun! After the snow melts, they offer all kinds of fun outdoor recreation! Come check it out!

Park at Water’s EdgeHere you’ll find a 4,200-square foot pool surrounded by a playground! Your kids will love the water cannons, slide, and little islands to hop across! Nearby there is a sand play area, hot tub, vertical climbing wall, and an adventure course! It’s a great way to cool off and enjoy the sunshine!

Vertical Edge Climbing WallAscend 32 feet above the Park at Water’s Edge for a great view! There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced climbing routes, so you’ll find your level no matter where you are! Certified instructors are there to get you into your harness and give you pointers before you start climbing!

Edge Adventure CourseHarness up and get ready to test your balance! The Edge Adventure Course is an elevated ropes course with a zip line suspended 20 feet above the pool at Park at Water’s Edge! On your trip through the course you will cross a wobbly bridge, jump between swings, and balance across a Burma Bridge! Once you make it through all that, you get to fly across the sky on a 130-foot zip line! Talk about high-flying fun!

Crystal Coaster Alpine SlideThe slopes aren’t closed in the summer, they’re just repurposed! Crystal Mountain is home to Michigan’s only Alpine Slide where you speed down the track on a special sled that has a lever to control the speed. It’s so high up, you have to take the chair lift to get to the top! You'll feel exhilarated when you reach the end of this 1,700-foot slide and you may even want to do it again!

Paintball CoursesGo ahead and take aim at dad for making you clean out the garage last weekend. Suit up for a fun paintball adventure on either the Speed Ball Course or the Woods Course. Duck, dodge, and shoot around different obstacles while trying not to become a target yourself. The courses are open to adults and kids ages 12 and up.

Mountain BikingBring your bike or rent one while you’re at Crystal Mountain and get ready for an adventure! With mountain biking trails that stretch all over the resort, you'll have a blast exploring the terrain. Some trails are only accessible by chair lift (with your bike in tow!). You can also venture to off-site trails in the area that offer well over 50 miles of exploration.

HikingHead out for a great family experience on the hiking trails of Crystal Mountain and beyond! You can head out on your own or enjoy a guided tour. One area of the trails even passes through the Michigan Legacy Art Park!

Michigan Legacy Art ParkHere you will find the story of Michigan told through art in the woods! There are over 40 sculptures and some poetry stones! An outdoor amphitheater sits nestled in the woods where they hold summer concerts each year!

Golf and Disc GolfYou’ll find two different golf courses at Crystal Mountain. Betsie Valley offers protected greens and tree-lined fairways with challenging bunkers throughout! Mountain Ridge is golfing up and down a mountain where you’ll shoot your ball through forests while ascending the terrain! If you’re not into regular golf, try disc golf! Crystal Mountain boasts a 9-hole disc golf course with discs available for rent!

Crystal Spa

Find comfort in the 18,500-square foot spa where you’ll feel relaxed as soon as you walk in. Book yourself a massage, a facial, or a body scrub to relax your muscles and your skin! Get your nails or makeup done, or clean up some areas with their waxing services! You can come in for just one treatment or book a whole day of pampering at the spa! Even men can experience a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, and scalp treatment. Pampering isn't just for the ladies anymore, so consider making it a couples outing!

Child Care Services

If you want to head out on the biking trails or play a round of golf without kids in tow, take advantage of Crystal Mountain's child care services. They offer daycare for the younger kids and workshops for older kids! They even have in-room babysitting if you're a guest at the resort. Childcare services must be scheduled 24 hours in advance, so call ahead to make sure you're covered!

Places to Eat

There are tons of options when it comes to dining at Crystal Mountain. Sit down for a great meal at the Thistle Pub & Grille or the Wild Tomato Restaurant & Bar! If you want something quick and easy, grab a bite from the Beach House or Clipper Café. The Little Betsie Bistro & Grocery offers deli items so can make your own meals if you desire.

Off-site Activities

In case you've done it all at Crystal Mountain and are looking for another adventure, there's more! You can hop on an ATV for a tour of the area or jump on a fat tire bike and head to the beach! You can canoe, kayak, go on a tubing trip, or tour the breathtaking Sleeping Bear Dunes nearby too! Or charter a fishing trip or get in some paddle boarding on Lake Michigan! When you're finally worn out and need to relax, catch a movie at the Benzie County Historic Movie Theater that’s been open since 1924! There’s so much to do around Crystal Mountain, you may never want to leave!

Camping

If you’re looking to pack up the RV and head out for a trip to the area, there are plenty of camping options. There are a few campgrounds near Crystal Mountain, which will make it easy to get back and forth!

Fuzzy Bear CampgroundFuzzy Bear is about 12 minutes south of Crystal Mountain and offers plenty of sites to choose from! They offer full hookups, a dump station, and Internet access! The campground has fishing, ping pong, and live music.

Betsie River CampsiteAll 96 sites at Betsie River Campsite have electrical service, a picnic table, and a fire ring! RV sites are pull through and some even have water hook ups. There’s a dump station on site or a honey wagon you can use! You can dine in the camp kitchen or pick up goods at the camp store! Just head about 20 minutes northwest of Crystal Mountain!

Head to Thompsonville, MI, for some extreme outdoor fun at Crystal Mountain any time of the year. This outdoor playground has something for everyone and is just waiting for you to explore it.

Why do you visit Crystal Mountain? What are your favorite activities here? Let us know in the comments below!